Fill in the empty fields to see the result.
Cost = spread × pip value + commission × lots × 2 − swap × lots × nights (a negative swap is a charge). Spreads change during the day and widen around news.
The inputs come pre-filled with neutral sample values. Replace them with your own figures. The results update next to the inputs.
What the calculator shows
Every trade starts with a cost. Before a position can show a profit, price must move far enough to pay for the spread, any commission and any overnight swap. This tool adds those costs together and shows:
- Total cost in money, in your account currency
- Total cost in pips, the break-even move
- Cost as a percentage of your target, which shows how much of the planned gain the costs would take
The tool calculates. It does not say whether a trade is worth taking.
The formula
The calculator uses this formula:
Total cost = (spread in pips × pip value) + (commission per lot per side × lots × both sides) + (swap per night × nights)
Then:
- Break-even move in pips = total cost ÷ pip value for your position size
- Cost as % of target = total cost ÷ target profit in money × 100
Commission is usually quoted per lot per side. A full trade has an opening side and a closing side, so the tool charges it on both. Swap can be a charge or a credit. A credit reduces the total cost.
The inputs
| Input | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Spread | The gap between bid and ask, in pips, at the moment you trade |
| Pip value | Money value of a one-pip move for one lot, or use the pip value calculator |
| Lot size | Your position size in lots |
| Commission | Charge per lot per side, if your account has one |
| Swap | Overnight charge or credit per lot per night |
| Nights | How many nights you expect to hold |
| Target | Your planned profit in pips, used for the cost percentage |
Terms for beginners
- Pip: the standard small unit of price movement on a currency pair. Gold, indices and crypto CFDs use their own point sizes.
- Spread: the difference between the buy (ask) and sell (bid) price. You pay it when you open a trade.
- Commission: a fixed fee per lot that some account types charge, usually alongside a tighter spread.
- Swap: the financing adjustment for holding a position past the daily rollover. The swap calculator and swap fees page explain it in more detail.
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Reading the results
Break-even move. This is the number of pips price must move in your direction before the trade is at zero. On short-term trades with small targets, this number can take up a large share of the target.
Cost as % of target. This puts cost next to your plan. When costs take a large part of the target, your stop-loss, win rate and risk-reward all carry more weight. You can check those with the break-even win rate calculator and the risk-reward calculator.
Spread versus commission accounts. Run the same trade twice. First use a wider spread with no commission. Then use a tighter spread with a commission. The tool shows which structure costs less for your lot size and holding time. The answer can change with trade frequency and how long you hold.
Points experienced traders should check
- Spreads are not fixed. They often widen around news, at the daily rollover and in thin sessions. Enter the spread you actually expect at your trading time. The session time converter shows when sessions overlap in Pakistan time.
- Pip value depends on the quote currency and on your account currency. On cross pairs it moves with the exchange rate.
- Swap rates change and can differ for buy and sell. Some instruments apply a larger charge on one weekday to cover the weekend. Check the current rates in your broker's contract specifications.
- Slippage is not included. Market and stop orders can fill at a worse price than requested. That cost comes on top of the result shown here.
- Currency conversion on deposits and withdrawals is a separate cost. The currency converter helps with that part.
Risk and legal context
Costs are only part of the picture. Leveraged forex and CFD trading can lose money fast. A trade with low costs can still lose far more than its costs. Size positions with the lot size calculator and read risk management before trading real money.
For Pakistani residents, per the SBP, remitting foreign exchange to overseas forex/margin/CFD platforms is not allowed through any payment channel (FERA s.5(1)). The law and regulators page explains what this means before you decide anything.
Frequent questions
Is this a spread calculator or a commission calculator?
It is both. It works out spread cost, commission and swap separately, then adds them into one total trade cost.
Why is commission counted on both sides?
Most commission accounts charge per lot when you open and again when you close. If your account charges a single round-turn figure, enter half of it as the per-side value.
Can the swap make my cost lower?
Yes. If the swap for your direction is a credit, enter it as a negative charge and the tool subtracts it. Swap rates change, so check the current figure before you rely on it.
Does the result include slippage?
No. Slippage depends on market conditions at the moment of execution. Treat the result as the minimum cost.
Where do I find my real spread and swap values?
Use the trading platform's market watch and the instrument's contract specification. For broker-specific conditions, check your broker's personal area or official site.
Which calculators work well with this one?
The pip value calculator, margin calculator and profit/loss calculator cover the other parts of trade planning. All tools are listed on the calculators page.